US5924755A - Adjusting device in a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Adjusting device in a motor vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
US5924755A
US5924755A US09/039,818 US3981898A US5924755A US 5924755 A US5924755 A US 5924755A US 3981898 A US3981898 A US 3981898A US 5924755 A US5924755 A US 5924755A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
mirror
seat
head restraint
adjusting device
motor vehicle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US09/039,818
Inventor
Jens-Olaf Muller
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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Application filed by Robert Bosch GmbH filed Critical Robert Bosch GmbH
Assigned to ROBERT BOSCH GMBH reassignment ROBERT BOSCH GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MUELLER, JENS-OLAF
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/0224—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
    • B60N2/0244—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation with logic circuits
    • B60N2/0252—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation with logic circuits with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/0224—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
    • B60N2/0244—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation with logic circuits
    • B60N2/0268—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation with logic circuits using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/80—Head-rests
    • B60N2/806—Head-rests movable or adjustable
    • B60N2/809—Head-rests movable or adjustable vertically slidable

Definitions

  • German Patent No. 32 40 294 describes a device for adjusting the height of a head restraint on a motor-vehicle seat.
  • a measuring device arranged on the head restraint is a measuring device interacting with a switching device which drives the adjusting drive of the head restraint.
  • This measuring device formed, for example, as an infrared-reflecting light barrier, detects the height of the seat occupant at a specific location on the body. The support position of the head restraint is accommodated to the seat occupant as a function of the ascertained height.
  • an additional measuring device is necessary for this purpose.
  • An object of the present invention is to reduce the expenditure for the automatic height adjustment of a head restraint.
  • the device of the present invention has an adjusting drive for a head restraint and a mirror, whose position is determinable.
  • the adjusting drive is driven as a function of the mirror position. Since the position of the mirror gives information about the size of the respective user, it is possible to dispense with an additional measuring device regarding this. Since in the case of most motor vehicles, particularly of the higher-end models, a motorized mirror adjustment is carried out, the motor position is available in any case as a measure for the position of the mirror.
  • the automatic adjustment of the height of the head restraints to the size of the user increases his/her safety considerably, since the head restraints are no longer incorrectly adjusted. Troublesome, manual adjustments of the head restraints are eliminated.
  • the adjusting drive is driven as a function of a seat position. Since the seat position also gives information about the size of the respective user, the quality of the determined setpoint position of the head restraint can be further improved by this means. Incorrectly adjusted head restraints because of inaccurate size determination can be avoided.
  • the position of the mirror is fed via a bus system to control electronics.
  • the position of the mirror can be queried via the bus without additional cabling expenditure. No additional hardware is necessary. The same holds true if the seat position is supplied via the bus system to the control electronics.
  • FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a device of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • a position 12 of a mirror 22 is fed to control electronics 28.
  • Control electronics 28 drives an adjusting drive 10 which moves a head restraint 20.
  • seat 24 has an occupant 30 in motor vehicle 40.
  • Mirror 22 is appropriately adjusted to this occupant 30.
  • Head restraint 20 is also at a height suitable for occupant 30.
  • the projection of the normal of the mirror surface and the horizontal line form an angle W as a measure for position 12 of mirror 22.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 function as follows:
  • Described representatively here is the adjusting operation of head restraint 20 of driver's seat 24.
  • Position 12 of mirror 22, the outside mirror on the driver's side, for example, is queried. If mirror 22 is actuated by adjusting drives 25, then their position is a measure for position 12 of mirror 22.
  • Mirror 22 according to FIG. 2 can be moved about a point of rotation in the drawing plane.
  • the position of the adjusting drive 25, which causes a movement of mirror 22 in this plane, serves as a measure for position 12.
  • a large angle W arising between the horizontal line and the projection of the normal of the mirror surface in the drawing plane indicates a large occupant 30, and a small angle W indicates a small occupant 30.
  • Control electronics 28 specifies, as a function of position 12 corresponding to angle W, a corresponding position setpoint value for adjusting drive 10 which moves head restraint 20 accordingly.
  • Allocated to different positions 12 or position ranges of mirror 22 are corresponding position setpoint values of adjusting drive 10 of head restraint 20. Depending on the actually detected position 12, the position setpoint value allocated to position 12 is specified for adjusting drive 10.
  • seat position 14 is also taken into consideration.
  • the further seat 24 is moved horizontally to the back, and the further head restraint 20 is moved upward. If seat 24 is inclined further to the back, a larger occupant 30 is inferred.
  • the position setpoint values of head restraint 20 are filed in parameter records as a function both of position 12 of mirror 22 and of seat position 14 of seat 24. In each case, these parameter records must take into account the vehicle-specific geometry data of the mounting of mirror 22 relative to seat 24. Position 12 of mirror 22 or seat position 14 can also be determined by conventional systems such as incremental position encoders.
  • the height of head restraint 20 can be adjusted automatically after actuating the ignition. It would also be conceivable, after a change in position 12 of mirror 22, to automatically readjust head restraint 20 in response to the position setpoint value then resulting for adjusting drive 10. Another alternative is to assign this automatic adjusting function of head restraint 20 to a special operating control element.
  • both position 12 of mirror 22 and seat position 14 can be queried via this bus, control electronics 28 selecting a corresponding position setpoint value for head restraint 20 as a function of these positions.
  • the exemplary embodiment is not restricted to the use of an outside mirror; for example, it is also possible to fall back upon the inside mirror and its position 12.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)
  • Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)

Abstract

An adjusting device in a motor vehicle includes an adjusting drive for a head restraint and a mirror whose position is determinable. The position of the mirror is fed to control electronics, and the position of a seat may also be fed to the control electronics. The adjusting drive is driven as a function of the position of the mirror.

Description

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
German Patent No. 32 40 294 describes a device for adjusting the height of a head restraint on a motor-vehicle seat. Arranged on the head restraint is a measuring device interacting with a switching device which drives the adjusting drive of the head restraint. This measuring device, formed, for example, as an infrared-reflecting light barrier, detects the height of the seat occupant at a specific location on the body. The support position of the head restraint is accommodated to the seat occupant as a function of the ascertained height. However, an additional measuring device is necessary for this purpose.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the expenditure for the automatic height adjustment of a head restraint.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The device of the present invention has an adjusting drive for a head restraint and a mirror, whose position is determinable. According to the present invention, the adjusting drive is driven as a function of the mirror position. Since the position of the mirror gives information about the size of the respective user, it is possible to dispense with an additional measuring device regarding this. Since in the case of most motor vehicles, particularly of the higher-end models, a motorized mirror adjustment is carried out, the motor position is available in any case as a measure for the position of the mirror. The automatic adjustment of the height of the head restraints to the size of the user increases his/her safety considerably, since the head restraints are no longer incorrectly adjusted. Troublesome, manual adjustments of the head restraints are eliminated.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the adjusting drive is driven as a function of a seat position. Since the seat position also gives information about the size of the respective user, the quality of the determined setpoint position of the head restraint can be further improved by this means. Incorrectly adjusted head restraints because of inaccurate size determination can be avoided.
In a further embodiment, the position of the mirror is fed via a bus system to control electronics. The position of the mirror can be queried via the bus without additional cabling expenditure. No additional hardware is necessary. The same holds true if the seat position is supplied via the bus system to the control electronics.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
According to FIG. 1, a position 12 of a mirror 22 is fed to control electronics 28. The same procedure is carried out with a seat position 14 of a seat 24. Control electronics 28 drives an adjusting drive 10 which moves a head restraint 20. As shown in FIG. 2, seat 24 has an occupant 30 in motor vehicle 40. Mirror 22 is appropriately adjusted to this occupant 30. Head restraint 20 is also at a height suitable for occupant 30. The projection of the normal of the mirror surface and the horizontal line form an angle W as a measure for position 12 of mirror 22.
The exemplary embodiments of the device according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 function as follows:
Described representatively here is the adjusting operation of head restraint 20 of driver's seat 24. Position 12 of mirror 22, the outside mirror on the driver's side, for example, is queried. If mirror 22 is actuated by adjusting drives 25, then their position is a measure for position 12 of mirror 22. Mirror 22 according to FIG. 2 can be moved about a point of rotation in the drawing plane. The position of the adjusting drive 25, which causes a movement of mirror 22 in this plane, serves as a measure for position 12. A large angle W arising between the horizontal line and the projection of the normal of the mirror surface in the drawing plane indicates a large occupant 30, and a small angle W indicates a small occupant 30.
For a simple implementation, only position 12 of mirror 22 is taken into consideration. The larger the described angle W, the higher head restraint 20 is moved by adjusting drive 10. Control electronics 28 specifies, as a function of position 12 corresponding to angle W, a corresponding position setpoint value for adjusting drive 10 which moves head restraint 20 accordingly.
Allocated to different positions 12 or position ranges of mirror 22 are corresponding position setpoint values of adjusting drive 10 of head restraint 20. Depending on the actually detected position 12, the position setpoint value allocated to position 12 is specified for adjusting drive 10.
For a more precise adjustment of head restraint 20, in addition to position 12 of mirror 22, seat position 14 is also taken into consideration. The further seat 24 is moved horizontally to the back, and the further head restraint 20 is moved upward. If seat 24 is inclined further to the back, a larger occupant 30 is inferred.
The position setpoint values of head restraint 20 are filed in parameter records as a function both of position 12 of mirror 22 and of seat position 14 of seat 24. In each case, these parameter records must take into account the vehicle-specific geometry data of the mounting of mirror 22 relative to seat 24. Position 12 of mirror 22 or seat position 14 can also be determined by conventional systems such as incremental position encoders.
The height of head restraint 20 can be adjusted automatically after actuating the ignition. It would also be conceivable, after a change in position 12 of mirror 22, to automatically readjust head restraint 20 in response to the position setpoint value then resulting for adjusting drive 10. Another alternative is to assign this automatic adjusting function of head restraint 20 to a special operating control element.
In FIG. 3, if the adjustment of mirror 22 or seat 24 is driven by way of a bus system, both position 12 of mirror 22 and seat position 14 can be queried via this bus, control electronics 28 selecting a corresponding position setpoint value for head restraint 20 as a function of these positions.
The exemplary embodiment is not restricted to the use of an outside mirror; for example, it is also possible to fall back upon the inside mirror and its position 12.

Claims (6)

What is claimed is:
1. An adjusting device of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a head restraint and a mirror, the adjusting device comprising:
a mirror position detector for detecting a position of the mirror; and
an adjusting drive coupled to the mirror position detector for adjusting the head restraint as a function of the detected position of the mirror.
2. The adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the head restraint is adjusted as a further function of a seat position of a seat of the motor vehicle.
3. The adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the mirror is an outside mirror of the motor vehicle.
4. The adjusting device according to claim 1, further comprising control electronics for driving the adjusting drive.
5. The adjusting device according to claim 4, further comprising a bus system for feeding the detected position of the mirror to the control electronics.
6. The adjusting device according to claim 5, wherein the bus system also feeds a seat position of a seat of the motor vehicle to the control electronics, the control electronics driving the adjusting drive as a function of the position of the mirror and of the seat position of the seat.
US09/039,818 1997-03-15 1998-03-16 Adjusting device in a motor vehicle Expired - Fee Related US5924755A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19710836 1997-03-15
DE19710836A DE19710836C2 (en) 1997-03-15 1997-03-15 Adjustment device in a motor vehicle

Publications (1)

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US5924755A true US5924755A (en) 1999-07-20

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ID=7823517

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US09/039,818 Expired - Fee Related US5924755A (en) 1997-03-15 1998-03-16 Adjusting device in a motor vehicle

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US (1) US5924755A (en)
JP (1) JPH10278649A (en)
DE (1) DE19710836C2 (en)
GB (1) GB2323067B (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001083257A1 (en) * 2000-04-28 2001-11-08 Robert Bosch Gmbh Device and method for user-specifically adjusting a device, especially an automobile
US20070046074A1 (en) * 2005-08-30 2007-03-01 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Seat apparatus
US7232187B1 (en) 2006-03-30 2007-06-19 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Head restraint for automotive vehicle
US20080129100A1 (en) * 2005-03-08 2008-06-05 Piotr Szablewski Backrest for a vehicle seat

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19860112A1 (en) * 1998-12-23 2000-07-27 Mannesmann Vdo Ag Method for adapting parameters of a control unit of a vehicle
DE19928951A1 (en) * 1999-06-24 2000-12-28 Volkswagen Ag Positioning device for the head support of the passenger seat of a vehicle
DE19933769A1 (en) * 1999-07-19 2001-01-25 Volkswagen Ag Arrangement and method for the individual and automatic function setting of assemblies of a motor vehicle
DE10003220A1 (en) * 2000-01-26 2001-08-02 Volkswagen Ag Driver-specific setting of motor vehicle seat involves setting seat using measured points of overall stature of driver or passenger and dimensional data of vehicle
DE10010989A1 (en) * 2000-03-07 2001-09-20 Daimler Chrysler Ag Determining a suitable position for a head or neck support involves determining head position for occupied driver's seat from setting of seat and position of at least one vehicle mirror
DE102010030481A1 (en) * 2010-06-24 2011-12-29 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Method for measuring height of driver of passenger car, involves measuring pivoting of rear-view mirror, and determining estimated value for driver based on measured pivoting of rear-view mirror

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4222608A (en) * 1977-12-30 1980-09-16 Nissan Motor Company, Limited Control system for adjustable head restraint on automotive seat
US4285545A (en) * 1978-03-11 1981-08-25 Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft Automobile passenger seat with an automatically positioned headrest
DE3240294A1 (en) * 1982-10-30 1984-05-03 Dr.Ing.H.C. F. Porsche Ag, 7000 Stuttgart Device for vertically adjusting a headrest on a motor vehicle seat
DE3427466A1 (en) * 1983-08-17 1985-03-07 Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co KG, 8630 Coburg DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF A HEADREST OF A VEHICLE SEAT
US4765683A (en) * 1985-11-26 1988-08-23 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Headrest apparatus
US4779929A (en) * 1986-07-30 1988-10-25 Fhs Stahlverformung Gmbh Variable-height and variable-slant head rest with a center window for motor vehicles
US4935680A (en) * 1987-12-26 1990-06-19 Ikeda Bussan Company, Limited Headrest control system for motor vehicle
US5171062A (en) * 1989-11-22 1992-12-15 Bertand Faure Automobile Adjustable front seats of motor vehicles having extending front portion and head rest
US5222784A (en) * 1990-07-30 1993-06-29 Bertrand Faure Automobile Electric head-rest, particularly for vehicle seats
US5229694A (en) * 1990-10-30 1993-07-20 Tachi-S Co., Ltd. Method and device for controlling headrest, and drive mechanism the headrest
US5812399A (en) * 1993-06-24 1998-09-22 Bertrand Faure Automobile "Bfa" Vehicle seat adjustment device with programmed relationships

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4222608A (en) * 1977-12-30 1980-09-16 Nissan Motor Company, Limited Control system for adjustable head restraint on automotive seat
US4285545A (en) * 1978-03-11 1981-08-25 Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft Automobile passenger seat with an automatically positioned headrest
DE3240294A1 (en) * 1982-10-30 1984-05-03 Dr.Ing.H.C. F. Porsche Ag, 7000 Stuttgart Device for vertically adjusting a headrest on a motor vehicle seat
DE3427466A1 (en) * 1983-08-17 1985-03-07 Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co KG, 8630 Coburg DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF A HEADREST OF A VEHICLE SEAT
US4645233A (en) * 1983-08-17 1987-02-24 Brose Fahzeugteile Gmbh & Co. Kg Installation for the adjustment of the height of a headrest of a vehicle seat
US4765683A (en) * 1985-11-26 1988-08-23 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Headrest apparatus
US4779929A (en) * 1986-07-30 1988-10-25 Fhs Stahlverformung Gmbh Variable-height and variable-slant head rest with a center window for motor vehicles
US4935680A (en) * 1987-12-26 1990-06-19 Ikeda Bussan Company, Limited Headrest control system for motor vehicle
US5171062A (en) * 1989-11-22 1992-12-15 Bertand Faure Automobile Adjustable front seats of motor vehicles having extending front portion and head rest
US5222784A (en) * 1990-07-30 1993-06-29 Bertrand Faure Automobile Electric head-rest, particularly for vehicle seats
US5229694A (en) * 1990-10-30 1993-07-20 Tachi-S Co., Ltd. Method and device for controlling headrest, and drive mechanism the headrest
US5812399A (en) * 1993-06-24 1998-09-22 Bertrand Faure Automobile "Bfa" Vehicle seat adjustment device with programmed relationships

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001083257A1 (en) * 2000-04-28 2001-11-08 Robert Bosch Gmbh Device and method for user-specifically adjusting a device, especially an automobile
US20080129100A1 (en) * 2005-03-08 2008-06-05 Piotr Szablewski Backrest for a vehicle seat
US7703847B2 (en) * 2005-03-08 2010-04-27 Brose Fahrzeugteile Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellshaft, Hallstadt Backrest for a vehicle seat
US20070046074A1 (en) * 2005-08-30 2007-03-01 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Seat apparatus
US7695058B2 (en) 2005-08-30 2010-04-13 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Seat apparatus
US7232187B1 (en) 2006-03-30 2007-06-19 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Head restraint for automotive vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE19710836A1 (en) 1998-09-17
DE19710836C2 (en) 1999-03-18
JPH10278649A (en) 1998-10-20
GB2323067A (en) 1998-09-16
GB9805302D0 (en) 1998-05-06
GB2323067B (en) 1999-03-31

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AS Assignment

Owner name: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MUELLER, JENS-OLAF;REEL/FRAME:009332/0213

Effective date: 19980515

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Year of fee payment: 4

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LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20070720